Report
Waltham Forest were on a hiding to nothing at East Thurrock on Saturday: without three first choice defenders, and with Yusuf Cicek, Stuart Elliott and Dewayne Clarke also missing, the side which took the field could only described as makeshift.
The first half was a battle for both sides in their attempt to control the ball against a fierce wind coming across the Coryton refineries. Chances were limited for both sides but it was the Forest who came closest first after five minutes when Warren Ryan was fouled over on the left wing. John Morgan took the free kick and almost scored and would have done had Harrison not cleared from his line. Thurrock seemed to be all over the place as they struggled to clear the ball.
The next chance almost fell to Mark Stein as he broke through and almost latched on to a long through pass. The next chance came from Morgan on 25 minutes when he lashed the ball in from the left from a distance of 35 yards, he caught the wind and all but fooled debut keeper Darren Smith, the ball hitting the post.
Forest side were having most of the possession as they managed to keep the ball on the ground thus aiding some good passing movements in midfield. The main problem was getting the ball to Mark Stein up front who ploughed a lonely furrow for most of the match.
With almost half an hour gone, the Rocks won a succession of corners but Gavin King and the Forest defence were equal to everything a fairly blunt home attack could muster. However, on 42 minutes Burns broke free in the box after a good ball from Ansell. Unhappily Burns decided to go down under an innocuous challenge. The referee proved his home credentials and gave a penalty straight away. Ansell made no mistake hitting the ball to the middle of the goal sending King the wrong way. The end of the first half saw Forest go in one goal down when they deserved to be at least on equal terms. Thurrock must have felt it was to be their day as their first serious shot on goal, a penalty at that, had put them ahead.
For the second half the Rocks had the wind at their backs and an ordinary side was transformed into a just above ordinary side! They managed to do what Forest were unable to do and used the wind to their advantage: they pushed up to play the offside trap but there were few off side calls as Forest found it more and more difficult to get out of their own half. Thurrock can than their lucky stars that Dewayne Clarke was injured as he would have been able to score a hatful with the space behind the home defence and the home side’s decidedly shaky ‘keeper.
Thurrock could have gone two goals up at the start of the second half but Ansell decided to shoot well wide with the goal at his mercy.
The next chance fell to Budge from a neat pass by Cartlidge. His touch and shot produced the first of a series of fine saves from King. He was beaten though only moments later as Ansell scored his second. He was first to the ball before Budge as they both found space after a good through ball from Barry. Ansell bobbled the ball to his left and slotted home.
On 60 minutes a good move involving Cartlidge and Barry found Blaney who’s shot from 25 yards produced a great tip over from King. Five minutes later Blaney hit another shot that King Parried to his right.
Thurrock began to ride their luck and, at times looked more than the solid workmanlike outfit they really are. Probably the best move of the match resulted in a third for the Rocks. Cartlidge found Ansell on the right and he worked the ball back to Blaney who spread it out to Burns on one of his breaking runs on the left. He took the ball in his stride and sent it into the roof of the net.
Both managers then started to use their substitutes: Forest’s Hakan Hayrettin brought on forwards and midfielders in an effort to get the ball to Stein and Rock’s Lee Patterson introduced three new sets of legs in an effort to tie up the match. All of them got in on the action.
Rocks could have increased the lead through Keith Martin who had the best chance but he poorly shot straight at King when found all alone. Andrew Martin turned and shot but if drifted wide and once again Ansell headed over when he should have scored.
Forest now have to start thinking about next season. Already Hayrettin has drawn up plans for a team built to get the ball to Stein up front. He has been disappointed with the form of some players who have not played as expected and youth team players may get the chance to show themselves before the season is out.